Can yogurt cure constipation?
You've seen the commercials and heard the claims.
Eat biotic-enhanced yogurt and, like magic, you'll be
"regular" in two weeks. Fact, fiction, or somewhere
in-between?
The fact is constipation is a medical problem that
shouldn't be taken lightly.
"If you're not having at least three bowel movements
a week, you are constipated," explains David
Schaffzin, MD, Virtua colorectal surgeon. "Curing
it with yogurt may be worth a try, but adding more
fruit, vegetables and whole grains to your diet is
also helpful."
If after two to three weeks of this approach, you
are still constipated, it's time to see a physician. "When
I consult with a patient who is constipated, I may
recommend an initial course of stool softeners if that
hasn't already been tried, or I may ask for further
testing such as a colonoscopy," says Dr. Schaffzin.
What causes constipation?
Most constipation problems are common, and they
are caused by changes in diet, not enough water or
fiber, lack of exercise and some types of medications.
"However, any change in bowel habits that lasts
longer than two to three weeks ought to signal a
visit to the doctor - to stay on the safe and regular
side," says Dr. Schaffzin.
Women may experience constipation as a result
of a hysterectomy or childbirth. This is due to
weakened muscles or a collapsed rectum, which
can cause an obstruction. Virtua surgeons correct
this with a minimally invasive procedure called
stapled transanal rectal resection. Virtua is
the only center in the region performing this
advanced surgery.
Constipation can also be caused by a blockage
due to a tumor. When this occurred in the past, the
surgeon performed an emergency procedure which
required the patient to wear a temporary colostomy
"bag" until the tumor was completely removed.
Now, advanced stenting technology provides relief
for patients without wearing a bag.
In the rarest constipation-related problem, where
colon nerve endings no longer function, a laparoscopic
removal of the entire colon is performed and the
small bowel is attached directly to the rectum.